STAND. COM. REP. NO. 424

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 637

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Higher Education and the Arts and Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 637 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION TO DIVEST EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII OVER THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE, MANAGEMENT, AND OPERATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to propose an amendment to Article X, Section 6, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to divest exclusive jurisdiction of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii over the internal structure, management, and operation of the University of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the University of Hawaii System, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that over the last several years, there have been concerns raised about the management and governance of the University of Hawaii System.  As the only public institution of higher learning in the State, it is important to ensure proper oversight and transparency of the University's fiscal and operational administration.  This measure opens the conversation on whether the University of Hawaii System should maintain its autonomy.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and the Arts and Judiciary and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 637 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and the Arts and Judiciary and Labor,

 

________________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair

 

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair